Father's Day 2019: 11 gift ideas for technology-savvy dads

The annual fathers day is approaching again. It is therefore time to think (if not already done) of what you can do to make your father figure feel special. In addition to spending quality time with dad, a gift that shows how much you love him (and how much you listen to him) can make the day even better.

We've been reviewing our recent reviews, guides and personal tests to select 11 possible technology gifts for Father's Day that we highly recommend. Some of these ideas are the subject of full criticism of Ars, while others are devices that we personally have used, loved and simply thought of that would constitute a valuable addition to any father's life . And in case the father figure in your life is the one who has never tinkered with the VCR's clock programming, we've even included some choices for the less tech-savvy fathers among us – and these suggestions are better than hum-hum polo shirt or tie gift options, too. Check out the complete list of Father's Day gift ideas below and find what's right for you before the two-day delivery deadline later this week.

Note: Ars Technica can earn compensation for sales from links on this post via affiliate programs.

HyperX Cloud Stinger Game Headset

If your dad likes to play from time to time with a good video game, a nice headset can make him feel closer to the action. If you wish, you can opt for a high fidelity option. We still love SteelSeries' Arctis Pro + GameDAC if money does not have any more goals. However, for people who are used to playing without headphones, HyperX's Cloud Stinger can offer a remarkable $ 50 audio upgrade.

The Cloud Stinger possesses what audio as we call a "v-shaped" sound signature. This means that the bass and treble are emphasized, while the mid-range frequencies are further back. (The frequency response curve of this type of headset is therefore in the form of the letter v, hence the term.) Purist audio types are generally not fans of this type of profile because Naturalbut for many popular music this gives a particularly energetic sound.

It turns out that it is also well suited to the game: the larger bass give more explosions to explosions, while high treble and high midrange make the footsteps and ambient noise more immediate. The Cloud Stinger uses this sound wisely. His bass is powerful, but it does not trample mediums and treble are present without being tiring. Imaging performance is also above average, which means that it's good for placing specific sounds where they are supposed to be, because they reproduce the sound of a game – which is important! When you listen to music, you will not have a ton of fine details, but for a $ 50 headphone, animatedand it is well suited to most games.

In addition to sound, the other two pillars of a good gaming headset are the comfort and performance of the microphone. The Cloud Stinger hits these two brands well. It is lightweight and well padded in the right places, with ear buds letting the ear breathe and not squeezing the head too much. The volume slider built under the right atrium is nice and smooth too. Meanwhile, the permanently connected microphone does not work properly: not enough for a professional vocal work, but it is sufficiently complete and clean for the members of the game group to hear you clearly while riots are occurring in the background .

The only big thing to watch for is the quality of construction. The Stinger Cloud headband is reinforced with stainless steel and provides a feeling of strength, but the helmet is largely made of hard plastic. This is not the kind of thing we advise you to take on the road, but this big connected microphone should suggest that this is intended for the home anyway. Finally, it should be noted that this is a wired headset, but that it should not be a problem as important with game controllers and PCs as with smartphones nowadays. The HyperX Cloud Alpha has a more comfortable design and a much better sound for about double the price, but if your father has not yet managed to switch to a dedicated headset, the Stinger Cloud always brings pleasure to a more price reasonable.

Jabra Elite Active 65t Wireless Headphones

Jabra manufactures true wireless headsets long before the AirPods invade the world. Dad will appreciate the more professional look of Jabra Elite Active 65t headphones while on the road. Not only are the black, blue, and red color options subtle but sophisticated, but the stemless design of the ear cups helps them disappear from your profile when you wear them.

In addition, they really hold in your ears! AirPods are only perfectly suitable for people with certain ear shapes. However, the three silicone ear gels supplied with the Elite Active 65ts can help you adapt to your body.

Jabra is renowned for manufacturing quality audio devices, and its truly wireless headphones are no different. The sound quality is excellent and the noise reduction and wind noise protection of the headphones help prevent stray noises from listening to music or talking on the phone. With the built-in microphone system, you do not need your smartphone to talk while you are in communication. This particular template also connects to Alexa and Siri so you can ask the virtual assistant to tell you information such as weather, time of your next meeting, etc.

The Elite Active 65t has an indoor motion sensor and an IP-56 protection rating that protects it from sweat and dust. This helps them to play the role of activity tracking, which is useful if you can not run without your music. The battery life is not too bad either: five hours of talk time and listening, or 15 hours when you charge periodically with its charging case provided. The AirPods will be better for some people, but the Jabra Elite Active 65ts are perfect for those looking for a more sophisticated pair of headphones.

Ikea Eneby 30 Bluetooth speaker

For the father who tends to listen to music (or podcasts or radio) while getting things done, a good home speaker such as the Ikea Eneby 30 should make it a friendly companion around from the house or garage. Yes, Ikea – the company best known for its rabid-inducing furniture and Swedish meatballs – is also one of the best features of wireless audio.

The Eneby 30 at $ 90 is a Bluetooth speaker, although it is powered by a power outlet instead of an internal battery, so it is not portable. That's good, it's a simple device with simple goals. The first is to be easy to use. A button controls volume, power, and pairing on its 12-inch square frame. It's quite simple to set up.

Eneby's other goal is to produce quality sound, and for the price, it's superb. Under its attractive (and removable) fabric cover are two four-inch woofers and a one-inch tweeter. The woofers give Eneby exceptional bass response for this class of speakers. Hip-hop and rock rock punctuated by rock have all their meaning. This bass is tense, however, not sloppy. Meanwhile, the tops are clear and clean and the overall gets a good volume without distortion when the dial is bent.

This is a mixed mono speaker that can not be paired in stereo with other Eneby units. Therefore, it will never produce extremely granular details or the type of imagery that produces a track sound. large. But if you think that your father would like to have a dedicated speaker, the Eneby will always give him a rich and complete sound for an individual package that does not represent a considerable loss of time for the portfolio.